Listening to her daughter's heartfelt words, the pregnant Lady Hou went on a killing spree.

"That's impossible. Two days ago, a servant from the manor went to the Ye residence to report the good news."

I specifically asked the old woman who had brought the good news, and she said that Madam Ye was in very good health and there was nothing wrong with her.

Did Ye Simiao tell you he was going home today?

"no."

"Then go to the Ye residence now and find out what's going on."

The matter had reached a critical point, and Zhao Kuo knew that he could not afford to be careless now.

He turned his body to the side and took Princess Qixia's hand across the table.

"I'll go and investigate myself. I won't be seeing Your Highness today. I'll have someone deliver a message to you if anything comes up."

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will not allow Ye Simiao to bear my child. My child can only have Your Highness as a mother."

Princess Qixia smiled smugly at Zhao Kuo.

"it is good."

After Zhao Kuo left, Princess Qixia's smile gradually faded. She took the handkerchief handed to her by a maid and carefully wiped her right hand, which Zhao Kuo had just touched.

If Zhao Kuo weren't still useful, she wouldn't bother with his pretense.

She was a princess of high status, yet the second master of the Chengen Marquis's mansion, who was already married, didn't even have the right to carry her shoes, and dared to covet her.

Princess Qixia mostly used Zhao Kuo. Once the Ye family fell, he would torture Ye Simiao to death, which would be Zhao Kuo's death day. At that time, no one in the world would know her true identity.

In fact, Zhao Kuo did not know Princess Qixia's true identity. He only thought that Princess Qixia hated Ye Simiao and the Ye family and wanted their lives because she loved him.

But he didn't realize that he had nothing to offer. Although he was good-looking, he was only average compared to the well-known young masters in the capital.

How could Princess Qixia possibly be interested in him under such circumstances?

Men can be so arrogant sometimes, thinking that every woman in the world will love them madly.

Actually, he didn't marry Ye Simiao because he liked her that much; it was just because of his competitive nature.

Ye Simiao was one of the women with the best social standing he could get at the time, and he put a lot of thought into marrying her.

After successfully marrying her, I felt a great sense of accomplishment.

Of course, his two years of marriage with Ye Simiao were not fake.

Now that there are better options, even a fool would know which to choose, and Zhao Kuo was no exception.

After leaving the princess's residence, Zhao Kuo went to the Ye residence. When Prime Minister Ye heard that Zhao Kuo had arrived, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He knew that now was not the time to make a move against Zhao Kuo.

"Bring him to the study; there's no need for him to see the young lady."

"Yes, sir."

Upon entering the study, Zhao Kuo appeared flustered.

"Father-in-law, I just received news that Mother-in-law is unwell. Why didn't you send someone to the Marquis of Chengen's residence to inform me? I could have come with Miaomiao to see Mother-in-law."

"It's nothing serious, your mother-in-law just had a headache."

You know she gets quite irritable when she has a headache. She just mentioned wanting to have a family dinner tonight, and since Miaomiao is back home, I decided to keep her here.

"So that's how it is. I've made my son-in-law worry for nothing."

Now that I'm here, I should go and pay my respects to my mother-in-law, as a way of showing my filial piety.

"You're so kind. Let's go together."

The two left the study, and Prime Minister Ye glanced in one direction.

When the two arrived at the main courtyard, the servants were in a flurry of activity.

Upon seeing the two, Granny Zhou, who came out of the house, hurriedly bowed to them.

"Greetings, sir and son-in-law."

"Is Madam's headache still not better?"

Granny Zhou didn't notice that her master used the phrase "not yet healed," rather than "relapsed."

"Reporting to sir, Madam is having a severe headache right now and is probably unable to receive guests."

Zhao Kuo stood in the courtyard, watching the busy servants, who seemed genuinely at ease, and the physician who had just been hurriedly brought in from outside. He could also faintly hear the Prime Minister's wife's cries of pain from inside the house.

"Let's go. You can't be of much help here. Go and take care of your own business. I'll have someone take Miaomiao home tomorrow."

"I'll go tell Miaomiao first and then go back."

"Um."

Seeing that Ye Chengxiang treated him no differently than usual, he went to Ye Simiao's courtyard by himself.

What he didn't know was that Prime Minister Ye's expression completely changed the moment he turned around.

It would have been easy for a prime minister to fool Zhao Kuo. If Zhao Kuo hadn't been his son-in-law and hadn't been so unsuspecting, he wouldn't have fallen for Zhao Kuo's trick.

Ye Simiao was not in the mood for a nap at this moment, and was sitting in the courtyard thinking about her background.

"Miss, the young master has arrived."

As soon as the maid finished speaking, Zhao Kuo walked into the courtyard, sat down next to Ye Simiao, and held her hand.

"Miaomiao, why didn't you tell me you were coming to the Prime Minister's residence? I could have accompanied you back."

Ye Simiao looked down at her hand, which was being held by Zhao Kuo, and felt utterly disgusted.

When he looked up, the look of disgust on his face was gone, and he smiled at Zhao Kuo.

"I hadn't thought about coming back this morning, but when I went to pay my respects to my mother, I suddenly wanted to go back home. Luckily, I came back today, because my mother's headache had flared up again."

At this point, Ye Simiao looked worried.

Zhao Kuo knew that the Prime Minister's wife had been suffering from headaches for more than ten years. The Ye family had consulted many famous doctors, but to no avail. This had become a major worry for the Ye family.

"Don't worry, Miaomiao, your mother-in-law is a lucky person and will be fine."

I've heard that a renowned healer has arrived from the south. Once I've ascertained his whereabouts, I'll invite him to examine my mother-in-law.

If she hadn't actually found that treasonous letter in the study, she would have found it hard to believe that Zhao Kuo was lying to her, but now she had no choice but to believe it.

"Thanks a lot."

"What are you saying? We are husband and wife, and my mother-in-law is also my mother. This is what I, as a son-in-law, should do."

Suddenly, Ye Simiao's expression changed drastically, and he vomited directly onto Zhao Kuo.

Zhao Kuo froze, completely stunned, while the servants around him scrambled to their feet.

Ye Simiao looked guilty.

"Husband, are you alright?"

"fine."

Zhao Kuo forced a smile and was helped away by his servants to get ready. While soaking in the bathtub, Zhao Kuo almost washed himself raw.

How dare Ye Simiao vomit on him?

Wait a minute, why does he feel like Ye Simiao is doing this on purpose? Does she know something?

Thinking of this, Zhao Kuo shook his head.

Impossible. He knew Ye Simiao's temper very well. If he knew what Ye Simiao was up to outside, he wouldn't be so calm. He would definitely make a scene.

I must be overthinking it.

Remembering that Ye Simiao had vomited on him earlier, Zhao Kuo gagged and rubbed himself harder until the skin on his chest was red before standing up, changing his clothes, and leaving the room.

"Miaomiao, I suddenly remembered that I have some things to do at the yamen, so I can't stay with you any longer. I'll come pick you up tomorrow."

"My husband, please go ahead with your business. I will take good care of myself."

That evening, in the main hall of the Ye family, all the members of the Ye family gathered. They didn't know why, and they all spoke in hushed tones.